Building our digital future

The Hodgman Liberal Government is a strong supporter of our information and communication technology sector as an enabler of economic growth across all industries.

This sector provides businesses with the capacity to raise their profiles, market products state-wide, nationally and globally, and operate more efficiently. This enables Tasmanians to grow their businesses and create more jobs.

In this Budget, we are delivering on a number of key communication technology commitments made as part of our plan to Build Your Future, including:

$400,000 over four years to enhance Tasmania’s digital capability, with a focus on enhancing the affordability of digital access for Tasmanians.
$3.5 million to improve mobile coverage for the Great Eastern Drive between Binalong Bay and Buckland. This investment will improve coverage in several small towns along the Drive, including Four Mile Creek, Falmouth and Coles Bay, enhancing access for tourists and locals alike. It is anticipated this will also allow for the future expansion of the Tasmanian Government’s free WiFi network along one of the state’s most popular tourist routes.
$75,000 to develop a new Workforce Development Plan for the industry, with particular focus on encouraging women and diversity in the IT sector.
$250,000 to fund an additional year of the highly successful Digital Ready program, providing funding certainty through to 2022. This investment will ensure small businesses continue to receive innovative, informative and relevant information to help them seize the opportunities presented by changing digital technology.
$278,000 to fund an additional year of the Enterprize Innovation Hubs in Launceston and Hobart, boosting the Hodgman Liberal Government’s total investment to the start-up community to more than $1.1 million dollars over the current term of Government.
$66.2 million over five years from 2018-19 for the Digital Transformation Fund. This includes the balance of the $13.1 million project commenced in 2017-18 for the procurement and implementation of a replacement integrated policing system, $16.6 million for Justice Connect, and $6 million for the CYC Client Information System. Other projects to be progressed through this fund include Health ICT Priority Infrastructure, the Public Account Reporting and Cash Management System, and the Digital Services Engine pilot program.

Improved information and communication technology is a key part of our plan to strengthen the economy and create more jobs in our growing state.